ABSTRACT Bacurizeiro (Platonia insignis) is a fruit of the Amazon that, due to anthropic actions, has been suffering serious damage to its genetic diversity. We analyzed the genetic diversity and structure of seven bacurizeiro populations distributed among four Brazilian states and two biomes, the Amazon and Cerrado, based on eight nuclear (ncSSR) and three chloroplast (cpSSR) microsatellite markers. Higher heterozygosity values were found for the Northern populations of Japurá and Marapanim, and the Northeast population of Chapadinha when using ncSSR. Higher diversity indices were also observed for these populations with cpSSR, although higher haplotypic diversity parameters were detected for the two Northern populations. Genetic structure analysis showed the formation of two well defined groups: I - populations from Maranhão and Piauí (Cerrado) and II - populations from Amazonas and Pará (Amazon). Positive and significant correlations were identified between genetic and geographical distances for both ncSSR (r = 0.09; p = 0.0010) and cpSSR (r = 0.11; p = 0.0008), in agreement with the genetic structure analysis. The high genetic structure among populations probably reflects the divergent natural and human selection pressures to which bacurizeiros are subjected in both the Amazon and Cerrado biomes, with higher diversity maintained in the Amazon populations.

Astrocaryum jauari é uma palmeira não domesticada e explorada de forma extrativista. O objetivo dotrabalho foi investigar a organização da diversidade genética e estrutura detrês populações de A. jauari . Este estudo foi realizado no estado doAmazonas, entre as cidades de Coari e Manaus. Nove microssatélites foram usadospara as análises genéticas. Foi encontrada alta variabilidade genética com um númeromédio de alelos por loco variando 3, 9 a 4, 4. As heterozigosidades observadasmédias, variando de 0, 71 a 0, 78, foram maiores que os valores deheterozigosidade esperada. Não foi detectada estrutura genética espacial e foiobservado apenas um agrupamento. Os resultados indicam uma possível estratégiade dispersão e sugerem que a conservação desta espécie deve ser realizadaprincipalmente nas populações encontradas no final do rio principal (Solimões), pois contêm a maior parte do material genético proveniente das cabeceiras dosafluentes do presente rio.

Astrocaryum jauari is a non-domesticated palm that is exploited by poachers. Our objective was to investigate the organization of the geneticdiversity and structure of three A. jauari populations. The study was carried out in the state of Amazonas, between the municipalities of Coari and Manaus. Nine microsatellite loci were used for the genetic analyses. High genetic variation was found, with a mean number of alleles per locus varying from 3.9 to 4.4. The average observed heterozygosity, varying from 0.71 to 0.78, was higher than expected. No spatial genetic structure was detected, since only one cluster was observed. Our results indicate a possible dispersion strategy and suggest that conservation measures of this species should focus mainly on the populations found at the end of the main river (Solimões) where most of the plant material originating from the headwaters of the tributaries of this river is concentrated.

El estudio de la estructura genética de poblaciones de plantas silvestres es esencial para su manejo y conservación. Varios marcadores de ADN e isoenzimas se han utilizado en este tipo de análisis. Con el fin de proporcionar una mejor comprensión de los resultados obtenidos y saber que marcador codominante elegir para futuros estudios en poblaciones naturales de Oryza glumaepatula, este trabajo busco evaluar y comparar dos marcadores de ADN, isoenzimas y microsatélites, en la diversidad y estructura genética de 13 poblaciones, destacando las similitudes y divergencias de cada marcador, así como la importancia relativa de los resultados en genética de poblaciones y conservación. Para los SSR, ocho loci SSR fueron evaluados, y los fragmentos se visualizaron utilizando el procedimiento de coloración con plata. Los análisis de isoenzimas se realizaron en geles de poliacrilamida, en los seis loci enzimáticos. Los loci SSR mostraron mayores niveles de diversidad genética que los loci isoenzimáticos, en promedio. La diferenciación genética entre los loci SSR (R ST=0.631, equivalente a F ST=0.533) fue inferior a la obtenida con las isoenzimas (F ST=0.772). Ambos marcadores mostraron alta desviación del equilibrio de Hardy-Weinberg (F IS=0.744 y 0.899, respectivamente, para SSR e isoenzimas). La tasa media aparente de cruzamiento para SSR ( =0.14) fue mayor que la obtenida con isoenzimas ( =0.043), aunque ambos marcadores detectaron niveles más bajos en la tasa de fecundación cruzada para la Amazonia, en comparación con la región del Pantanal. La estimación de número de migrantes también fue mayor para los SSR (Nm=0.219) que en isoenzimas (Nm=0.074). No se obtuvo ninguna correlación entre las distancias genéticas y geográficas para los SSR, y para las isoenzimas se obtuvo una correlación positiva entre las distancias genéticas y geográficas. Llegamos a la conclusión de que estos marcadores son divergentes en la detección de los parámetros de la diversidad genética en O. glumaepatula y que los microsatélites son más eficientes para detectar la información a nivel intra-poblacional, mientras que las isoenzimas son más potentes para detectar la diversidad entre poblaciones.

The study of the genetic structure of wild plant populations is essential for their management and conservation. Several DNA markers have been used in such studies, as well as isozyme markers. In order to provide a better comprehension of the results obtained and a comparison between markers which will help choose tools for future studies in natural populations of Oryza glumaepatula, a predominantly autogamous species, this study used both isozymes and microsatellites to assess the genetic diversity and genetic structure of 13 populations, pointing to similarities and divergences of each marker, and evaluating the relative importance of the results for studies of population genetics and conservation. A bulk sample for each population was obtained, by sampling two to three seeds of each plant, up to a set of 50 seeds. Amplified products of eight SSR loci were electrophoresed on non-denaturing polyacrylamide gels, and the fragments were visualized using silver staining procedure. Isozyme analyses were conducted in polyacrylamide gels, under a discontinuous system, using six enzymatic loci. SSR loci showed higher mean levels of genetic diversity (A=2.83, p=0.71, A P=3.17, Ho=0.081, He=0.351) than isozyme loci (A=1.20, p=0.20, A P=1.38, Ho=0.006, He=0.056). Interpopulation genetic differentiation detected by SSR loci (R ST=0.631, equivalent to F ST=0.533) was lower than that obtained with isozymes (F ST=0.772). However, both markers showed high deviation from Hardy-Weinberg expectations (F IS=0.744 and 0.899, respectively for SSR and isozymes). The mean apparent outcrossing rate for SSR ( =0.14) was higher than that obtained using isozymes ( =0.043), although both markers detected lower levels of outcrossing in Amazonia compared to the Pantanal. The migrant number estimation was also higher for SSR (Nm=0.219) than isozymes (Nm=0.074), although a small number for both markers was expected due to the mode of reproduction of this species, defined as mixed with predominance of self fertilization. No correlation was obtained between genetic and geographic distances with SSR, but a positive correlation was found between genetic and geographic distances with isozymes. We conclude that these markers are divergent in detecting genetic diversity parameters in O. glumaepatula and that microsatellites are powerful for detecting information at the intra-population level, while isozymes are more powerful for inter-population diversity, since clustering of populations agreed with the expectations based on the geographic distribution of the populations using this marker

Based on nine microsatellite loci, the aim of this study was to appraise the genetic diversity of 42 cassava ( Manihot esculenta ) landraces from selected regions in Brazil, and examine how this variety is distributed according to origin in several municipalities in the states of Minas Gerais, São Paulo, Mato Grosso do Sul, Amazonas and Mato Grosso. High diversity values were found among the five above-mentioned regions, with 3.3 alleles per locus on an average, a high percentage of polymorphic loci varying from 88.8% to 100%, an average of 0.265 for observed heterozygosity and 0.570 for gene diversity. Most genetic diversity was concentrated within the regions themselves ( H S = 0.52). Cluster analysis and principal component based scatter plotting showed greater similarity among landraces from São Paulo, Mato Grosso do Sul and Amazonas, whereas those from Minas Gerais were clustered into a sub-group within this group. The plants from Mato Grosso, mostly collected in the municipality of General Carneiro, provided the highest differentiation. The migration of human populations is one among the possible reasons for this closer resemblance or greater disparity among plants from the various regions.

Knowledge of the genetic structure and diversity of natural populations is important in developing strategies for in situ and ex situ conservation. We used eight microsatellite loci to estimate genetic structure and investigate within and between population genetic variation in eleven Brazilian wild rice (Oryza glumaepatula) populations. The study showed the following genetic diversity parameters: average number of 3.1 alleles per locus; 77.3% polymorphic loci; 0.091 observed heterozygosity and 0.393 gene diversity. F-statistics detected by microsatellite loci were: F ST = 0.491 (and R ST = 0.608), F IS = 0.780 and F IT = 0.888. No population was in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The estimated apparent outcrossing rate (0.143) indicated a predominance of self-fertilization. The gene flow values were low (Nm = 0.259 and 0.161 for F ST and R ST, respectively). Populations were spatially structured but without a correlation between genetic and geographic distances. Five populations (PG-4, PG-2, PU-1, SO-4, NE-18) were identified as priorities for conservation strategies. Populations from the Amazon biome showed heterogeneity with respect to intrapopulation diversity. The high level of genetic differentiation between populations and the high number of private alleles suggested that sampling should be carried out on a large number of O. glumaepatula populations for ex situ conservation purposes.